Conventional Weight Loss Treatment for Obesity/ Overweight:. Diet usually consisting of a decrease in calories and change in dietary habits.. Exercise.

. Behavioral therapy (includes many commercial weight loss programs).. Drugs including appetite suppressants and stimulants.. Surgery. The most common operations- vertical banded gastroplasty and gastric bypass, radically reduce stomach volume. There are a variety of nutrient deficiencies that may occur as a result of these procedures.

Why Some Weight Loss Programs Fail?

. Not being realistic about the time that it takes for permanent healthy weight loss. Expect your dietary and exercise changes to be lifelong habits. Plan to take 24-36 months to attain your ideal weight.. Failure to identify contributing factors in weight gain. Wrong dietary plan. Inability to burn total calories being consumed. Water retention. Constipation. Poor digestion. Poor liver function. Poor carbohydrate metabolism. Deficiency of essential nutrients needed for normal metabolism. Food sensitivities. Toxicity stored in fat tissue. Mental/emotional issues. Mental and emotional issues in our lives affect our eating habits and our relationship with food. For many people, it is necessary to address this component of health in order to attain permanent weight loss.

Change your approach to Weight-Loss. Throw your scale out. Do not weigh yourself. Gauge your weight loss by the change in your clothes, your body and your feeling.. Make the goal be achieving and maintaining balance in your life. Balance your food, work, home, self, exercise, reactions to life and emotions.. Work the program diligently for 24-36 months and expect consistent small results. A monthly 2 lb. weight loss equals 72 pounds in 36 months. This is a slow evolving experience, not a crash program. Have patience.. Never give up. Successfully living a healthy lifestyle requires persistence over a long period of time. It gets easier but you’ll be working at it for the rest of your life. You don’t just arrive and that is it. It is like brushing your teeth; it calls for attention on a daily basis.. Surround yourself with people who support you and your goals rather than undermine you.. Regularly do something in your life that you love.

Dietary plan/ Nutritional ConsiderationsNever use a low calorie diet again. This is not a diet. Banish the word from your vocabulary. Choose to live a particular way that includes a moderate amount of good clean food, regular exercise, relaxation, fun, time for yourself and caring for yourself and others.

Atkins Diet...Zone Diet…Low Fat Diet… They all share a common flaw: a "one size fits all" approach. Naturopathic physicians can work with you to determine the lifetime eating plan that is right for you which will promote overall health as well as permanent weight loss.

Difficulties losing weight are often related to deficiencies in nutrients which are necessary for proper metabolism. If fats can’t be broken down properly, weight loss is difficult or impossible.

. Nutrients such as B-vitamins, lipoic acid, iron, magnesium, manganese, chromium, L-carnitine and Co-enzyme Q-10 are essential for proper metabolism of fats and carbohydrates.. Nutrients necessary for proper thyroid function include tyrosine, iodine, selenium, zinc, and copper.. Food cravings and insulin resistance can also be due to nutrient deficiencies.

ExerciseExercise helps reduce weight. Research shows that frequency of exercise is the most important factor in weight loss. Duration of exercise is the second most important factor.

Exercise has important benefits:Increases lean body mass, which automatically increases your metabolism - muscle tissue has a higher metabolic rate (burns more calories) than adipose (fat) tissue.Improves mood, improves sleep, improves balance and coordination, lowers blood sugar, improves insulin sensitivity, improves immune system function, improves circulation, lowers blood pressure, lowers LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, raises HDL (“good”) cholesterol and overall significantly reduces the risk of heart disease. Consult an expert before starting any exercise program who will advise you what based on your physiological condition what kind of exercise would be best for you.

Stress ManagementIf you have hormonal imbalances that are caused by chronic stress, stress management will help with weight loss. It is often necessary to take a hard look at how one reacts to stress from mental/emotional issues in one’s life and how to resolve/manage/change these responses to be more healthy.